Home > GGO's in de landbouw en voedselvoorziening
Toespraak | 25-11-2009
Minister Gerda Verburg van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit opende op woensdag 25 november in Scheveningen de eerste dag van de tweedaagse internationale conferentie over genetisch gemodificeerde organismen (ggo's). In grote delen van de wereld worden ggo's geteeld en gebruikt, maar in Europa woedt een hevige discussie over gebruik van ggo's in de landbouw en de voedselvoorziening. Minister Verburg hoopt met de conferentie uit de patstelling te komen. De conferentie werd bijgewoond door 200 vertegenwoordigers van 22 EU-landen en 3 aspirant-EU-landen.
Toespraak van minister Verburg van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit bij de opening van de conferentie 'GMOsin European Agriculture and Food Production', op 25 november 2009 in Den Haag (Engelstalig).
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for me and my colleague, Minister Cramer, to welcome you to this conference in The Hague. We are delighted that you could attend.
Genetically modified crops. No other theme takes us so far into the future, is so closely connected with new technologies and presents us with so many choices. Choices that are closely aligned with some of the big global questions that we face today: the question of food security and the need to develop a sustainable agriculture.
Questions that also headline the agendas of international meetings of heads of state. Last week, in Rome, Italy, the FAO World Summit on Food Security took place committing the international community to investing more in agriculture and to eradicating hunger. And earlier this year, I chaired myself the 17th meeting of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), to increase the investments in sustainable agriculture and to promote the development of sustainable production and food chains.
Solving these questions calls for new, creative and innovative thinking. But, moreover it calls for concrete deliverables and actions to be implemented.
Genetic technology is introduced as one of the technologies that could contribute to meeting the challenges of food security and sustainable agriculture. It therefore deserves a rightful judgment of its potential. But we should not make the mistake to discuss it as the answer and we should not close our eyes for the possible drawbacks that the introduction of this technology includes.
We have to be aware, that the world around us has changed drastically in recent years.
Ten years ago the number of undernourished people in the world amounted to 850 million. Today, there are more than 1 billion.
Ten years ago GM crops were still something special, and they were rarely grown.
In our time over half the world's soya and cotton is genetically modified. As you know, these are two key imports for the EU. The OECD forecasts that the area of farmland on which GM crops are cultivated will continue to increase in the years to come.
In our time GM soya, maize, cotton and rape seed are grown throughout the world. This situation is driven by big public sector ambitions, considerable knowledge and several major biotech firms. China, for example, with its population of 1.3 billion is emerging as one of the largest cultivators of GM crops, and invests more money in GM research than any other country.
In our time the European Union is one of the largest importers of genetically engineered products in the world. And the EU uses GM crops in much of its livestock feed.
The question is therefore no longer if we want to allow the cultivation of GMOs, but how.
The primary concern is guaranteeing that the use of GMOs is not harmful for humans or the environment.
This conference is intended to contribute to a constructive debate in the EU on the use of GMOs in European agriculture and food production, and any potential socio-economic impacts.
This debate is in a direct line with how we perceive the introduction of new technologies in agriculture in general. As the chair of the Commission on Sustainable Development I already stressed the need to make full use of opportunities provided by science, research and technology in order to generate a sustainable agriculture and to promote rural development.
It is in the interests of all parties to break the current European deadlock on GMO authorisation as soon as possible.
The present situation harms the interests of all stakeholders, at a time when it is essential to seize potential opportunities. Furthermore, we must also respond adequately to future developments, and offer good solutions, not least in terms of safety. However, this is not yet the case. Allow me to give an example for both.
Earlier the EU has discussed several proposals to break the deadlock.
Firstly, the Netherlands called for the EU to adjust its current authorisation procedure by giving Member States the final say on whether to allow GM crops to be cultivated on their territory. Such a decision at national level would follow approval by the European Commission that is based on the strict environmental and human health safety criteria. This proposal can count on a great deal of support in Europe and was recently reiterated by Mr. Barroso, Chairman of the European Commission. The Netherlands would therefore like to see this proposal implemented as soon as possible. Minister Cramer and I submitted this proposal to the Agriculture and Environment Council in March. We urged the European Commission to come forward with further proposals that do implement this proposal.
Secondly, the EU-Council agreed to consider socio-economic implications of the placing on the market of GMOs, including possible benefits and risks as well as agronomic sustainability. This is a complex area that calls for a careful approach. Tangible results on this subject may therefore only be achieved in the longer term.
It will be clear to you that we urgently need a system that functions effectively. Furthermore, our citizens and businesses have the right to a robust and credible regulatory framework that is pertinent to our current situation.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are fortunate to have representatives from almost all the Member States with us here today. It means we have an ideal opportunity to discuss these proposals. To identify the best solutions, we need to explore all the angles to find the best solutions.
That brings me to the essence of what this conference is about: an open, constructive discussion about (the question of) how GM crops can be used in agriculture and food production. How we can take advantage of opportunities and provide the right answers to the issues in society. I hope that by discussing these issues in depth we will be able to make progress in Europe.
In December of last year the European Council decided to initiate a discussion in Europe on the socio-economic aspects of the market authorisation of GM crops. The Netherlands is an enthusiastic participant in this process, as demonstrated by events such as this conference. Yet if we are to make a real contribution we must look beyond our borders. We need your input. What do you think is important? Where should the emphasis lie? And how can the EU reflect this emphasis in authorisation? These are the central issues.
I would like to start this conference by sharing with you the issues I consider important: Let me get the ball rolling by telling you which issues I consider important:
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your challenge is to share your knowledge and experience with us and with each other. To identify opportunities and solutions. I hope that this will lead, literally and figuratively, to an exchange of views that transcends national borders. I believe that three qualities are required to tackle this issue. Courage, focus and an eye for detail. Courage to exchange views openly. Focus to ensure that individual aspects can be brought together in one coherent approach. And an eye for detail because no construction is ever perfect.
We thoroughly appreciate your active participation. It will provide a great boost for constructive debate. Without intensive European cooporation and coordination this will not work, without your know-how it will not happen. I look forward to meeting you all and I sincere hope that we can make steps forward. Towards a future in which agriculture can feed the world in a healthy and sustainable way, while taking care of the environment and playing an active role in adaption and mitigation of climate change.
Thank you.
